Apparatus for use in treating hides, skins, and the like



y 29, 1941 J. L. RUSSELL 2,250,679

APPARATUS FOR USE IN TREATING HIDES, SKINS, AND THE LIKE Filed July 20, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 29, 1941. J; Fw sm- 2,250,679

APPARATUS FOR USE IN TREATING HTDES, SKINS, AND THE LIKE Filed July 20, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /9 /2-"' l l f i g l ll ll o H "2 x i 26 Kai 0,; 1}. 48 4a 47:

Patented July 29, 1941 UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR USE IN TREATING HIDES, SKINS, AND THE LIKE Application July 20, 1939, Serial No. 285,535

9 Claims.

My invention relates to apparatus for use in the treatment of hides, skins and the like during the process of manufacturing leather, and it has for its object to provide an improved apparatus of the class described by means of which cal form. At its lower end the vertical shafts various operations such as drying, pickling, col- 23 are connected by miter gears 44 with the oporing, tanning and washing may be expeditiousposite ends of the armature shaft 21 of an elecly, efliciently and economically performed. tric motor 28. The axes of shafts 2T, 23, 2| and To these ends I have provided an improved I 6 and trunnion l8 are'all disposed in one verapparatus of the class described which may be 10 tical plane. a constructed and operated as set forth in the fol- The center of gravity of the motor 28'is coinlowing description, the several novel features of cident with the vertical axis on which the frame the invention being pointed out and defined in H rotates and all of the parts of frame l1 and the claims at the close thereof. the parts which are carried by the latter, are In the accompanying drawingssymmetrically disposed so that the weight ofsaid Figure l is an elevation of one form of apparts at one side of said vertical axisis. the paratus constructed-in accordance with this insame, or approximately the same,- as the weight vention. of the parts at the opposite side of saidaxis. Figure 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1. This avoids gyratory effect while the frame Figure 3 illustrates one method of loading and is rotated. unloading the drum of the apparatus illustrated The shaft. it of frame I1 is connected throu in Figs. 1 and 2'. beveled gears 29 with a driving shaft 30 to which Figure 4 illustrates an alternative form of appower is supplied from anysuitable source so paratus constructed in accordance with this inthat it may be varied as desired. vention. Fixed to the top cross-bar offrame. I1 is a Figure 5 is a detail hereinafter described. horizontal-plate orannulus 3! of insulating ma- The embodiment of my invention illustrated terial to the top side of which are fixed two conin Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a stationary and fixed centric metalcommutator rings 33 and 34which framework including a base In, uprights H are engaged, respectively, by spring-contacts 36. at opposite ends thereof, a top cross-bar l2, and and 3 ou 1 the under. Side Of 131181101) a lower cross-bar I3 disposed a short distance cross-bar l2. The contacts 36 and 31 are conabove the base I0. nected by wires 38 and 39 with a rheostat R Journaled in bearings I l and I5, provided on which in turn is connected through a cable 40 the cross-bar 3 and base II], respectively, is a with a source of current. i vertical shaft l6 and to the upper end portion of 35 Wires 4| and .42. connect the commutator rings this shaft is fixed the lower end of a rectangular 33 and 34,- re pectively, with the terminals of frame IT. The upper end of this frame I! is motor 28 and these wires are incorporated in a fixed to one end of a vertical trunnion or shaft cable 43 which is fastened to-frame I'I. section l8 which is axially aligned with the shaft It will be clear that when the control lev r of IS and rotatably mounted within a bearing l9 0 rheostat R is swung toward the left, Fig. 1, the provided at the middle of the top cross-bar l2. wires 38 and 39 are connected with the source of It will thus be clear that the frame I! is mounted current and the latter is supplied through conto rotate on a vertical axis coincident with the tacts 35 and 3?, rings 33 and 34 and wires 4| axes of shaft l6 and trunnion I8. and 42 to the motor 28 whose armature shaft The oppositely disposed vertical side bars of acts through the connections described to roframe l! are made with sockets 20 within which tate the drum 26 on the fixed shaft 2|. As will the opposite end portions of a horizontal shaft be clear the speed of rotation of drum 26 may 2| are fixed with provision for removal by pins be varied as desired by'means of the rheostat. 22 as shown in Fig. '1. The axis of the fixed It will also be clear that shaft 30 may be driven shaft 2| intersects the vertical axis on which the 0 at any desired speed. The described construction frame rotates. also has the advantage that the drives for drum J ournaled in bearings provided upon the inner 26 and frame I! are independent and either may sides of the two oppositely disposed side barsof be rotated to the exclusion of the other. frame aretwo vertically disposed shafts 23, As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the cylindrical wall each provided at its upper end. with a beveled 5, of drum 26 is made with a longitudinal slot 45 pinion 24 meshing with the beveled gear 25 fixed to the proximate endofa drum 26 that is rotatably mounted upon the fixed shaft 2|. This drum 26 is preferably of cylindroidal or cylindriof sheet material that are to be treated, are

introduced between the convolutions of the web as shown at 45 in Fig. 2. Thus the finished wrapping on the drum 26 consists of alternating layers of web and skins, hides or the like. When the web is completely wound on to the drum a plurality of straps 50 are applied to the exterior thereof after which shaft 38 and motor 28 are started in operation with the result that frame I! is rapidly rotated on a vertical axis while the drum 26 is rapidly rotated on a horizontal axis.

When the machine is used for drying skins, hides and the like, and both shaft 30 and motor 28 are in operation, the centrifugal force exerted upon the convolutions of the web and the pieces of material between said convolutions serves to flatten out and smooth said pieces as well as to force moisture radially outward away from the rotating drum. At the same time the rotation of the frame ll on the vertical axis imposes centrifugal force upon the moisture within the wrapping on the drum and forces the same toward the opposite ends of the latter where it is discharged. It follows, therefore, that after a comparatively short period of time the skins, hides or the like may be removed from the machine in a dry, smooth, stretched and unwrinkled condition.

When it is desired to subject the skins, hides or the like to the action of a liquor while being treated in the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2 I may employ a loading device such as that illustrated in Fig. 3. This loading device comprises a vat 5| provided with a removable top 52 and within this vat may be introduced a body of liquor 53 for either pickling, tanning, washing, coloring or the like Within which the outer end portion of the web is stowed as shown. From the drum 26 the web 48 extends around a guide pulley 54 and thence downwardly into the vat 5| where it is submerged in the liquor 53. The drum 26 is then rotated manually or otherwise in the direction of the arrow and as the web is wound thereon the skins or hides 49 placed successively on the table 52 are shoved into position between the convolutions of the web. Thereafter the straps 50 are applied and the loading device 5| removed leaving the machine, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, free to be operated. During the operation of the machine centrifugal force distributes the liquor with which the web is saturated so that the. skins, hides or the like are uniformly treated by the same and also stretched and smoothed out.

The vat 5| is provided with an off-take pipe 55 controlled by a normally closed valve 55 so that the liquor contents of the vat may be withdrawn when desired so that the loading device may be used without the liquor 53.

When it is desired to emboss the skins, hides or the like, which are operated upon by the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2, I may introduce metallic embossing elements 51, Fig. 5, between the skin, hide or the like 49 and the web 48.

These metallic embossing elements may consist of pieces of wire netting or the like which are flexible so that they will assume the curvature of the convolutions of the web. As will be clear, rotation of the drum on the axis of shaft 2| imposes centrifugal force upon the web and the work held thereby so that the design of the embossing element is imposed upon the work.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings I have illustrated an alternative construction which comprises a vat 58 through which extends a fixed shaft 59. On this shaft is rotatably mounted the drum 26a provided, as in Figs. 1 and 2, with a fabric web 48 and straps 50. As shown in Fig. 4 the driun 26a is provided at one end with a beveled gear 60 driven by a beveled gear 6| fast on a shaft 62 journaled in bearings provided within vat 58. Shaft 62 extends through one wall of the vat and is belt-driven as shown. A removable closure wall 63 is provided for the top of the vat. In using this form of apparatus a body of liquor 64 is introduced into the vat and after applying the closure 63 the drum is started in operation. The liquid contents of vat 58 may be fat liquor or liquor for pickling, tanning, washing or coloring the work and, as will be clear, several of these operations may be carried out in succession without removal of the work from the drum 26a. When changing from one of these operations to another the liquor 64 may be exhausted through a draw-off pipe 65 that is normally closed by a valve 66 and another liquor substituted therefor which is appropriate for the next operation.

In carrying out the two-bath process of chrome tanning I may subject the skins to the first chromic acid bath as heretofore and thereafter transfer the skins to the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 saturating the cloth web with the second reducing bath liquor by means of the loadingdevice shown in Fig. 3.

Sometimes the skins are tanned by a one-bath chrome tanning operation in which case the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2 would be used with the fabric web saturated with the tanning solution. In some cases both steps of the two-bath chrome tanning operation can be carried out by using the loading devices shown in Fig. 3.

It is also possible to carry out many other tanning operations utilizing the apparatus herein above described apparatus and method of treatment is that tacking, stripping and trimming heretofore required are dispensed with which accomplishes considerable saving and reduces expense.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 the axis of rotation of the drum intersects the center of gravity of the latter as does also the axis of rotation of the frame l1.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus of the character described comprising a cylindrical drum around the exterior of which the skins, hides or the like are wrapped; means carried by said drum for holding the skins, hides or the like in position thereon; a frame on which said drum is mounted to rotate on its own axis; means supporting said frame for rotary movement on another axis perpendicular to the axis of said drum and intersecting the same midway between the opposite ends of the drum; means for rotating said drum on its axis, and means for rotating said frame on its axis of rotation.

2. An apparatus of the character described comprising a drum around the exterior of which the skins, hides or the like are wrapped; means carried by said drum for holding the skins, hides or the like in position thereon; a frame on which said drum is mounted to rotate on an axis intersecting its center of gravity; means supporting said frame for rotary movement on another axis perpendicular to said first mentioned axis and also intersecting the center of gravity of said drum; means for rotating said drum on said first mentioned axis, and means for rotating said frame on its axis of rotation.

3. An apparatus of the character described comprising a drum; a fabric web of sufficient length to be wrapped around said drum to the extent of a plurality of convolutions with skins, hides or the like, alternating with said convolu tions, the inner end of said web being fastened to said drum; flexible embossing elements of sheet material incorporated within the convolutions of said web alongside of said skins, hides or the like; means for holding said web, said skins, hides or the like, and said embossing elements in position on said drum; a frame on which said drum is mounted to rotate on an axis intersecting its center of gravity; means supporting said frame for rotary movement on another axis perpendicular to said first-mentioned axis and also intersecting the center of gravity of said drum; means for rotating said drum on said first-mentioned axis, and'means for rotating said frame on its axis of rotation.

4. An apparatus of the character described comprising a drum; a fabric web of sufiicient length to be wrapped around said drum to the extent of a plurality of convolutions with skins, hides or the like, alternating with said convolutions, the inner end of said web being fastened to said drum; means carried by said drum for holding said web and said skins, hides or the like, in position on said drum; a frame on which said drum is mounted to rotate on an axis intersecting its center of gravity; a support on which said frame is mounted to rotate on an axis at right angles to said first mentioned axis and also intersecting said center of gravity; an electric motor mounted on said frame; mechanism through which said motor drives said drum; electrical connections through which said motor is supplied with current, said electrical connections including a commutator whereof parts are mounted on said frame and parts are mounted on said support, and means, independent of said motor, for rotating said frame.

5. The combination with an apparatus of the character described comprising adrum supported for rotation on a horizontal axis; a fabric web of sufficient length to be wrapped around said drum to the extent of a plurality of convolutions with skins, hides or the like, alternating with said convolutions, the inner end of said web being fastened to said drum, and means for fastening the outer end of said web in position against the exterior of said wrapping, of a loading device consisting of a movably supported vat adapted to receive most of said web when it is unwrapped from said drum and also adapted to hold a liquid, and means adjacent to the top of said vat for supporting each skin, hide or the like, so that it will be wound on to said drum with said web when said drum is rotated in a direction to wind said web thereon preparatory to operation of the apparatus.

6. An apparatus of the character described comprising a work-holding member on which the skins, hides or the like are mounted; means carried by said member for holding the skins, hides or the like in position thereon; a frame on which said member is mounted to rotate on one axis which intersects its center of gravity; a support for said frame on which the latter is mounted to rotate on an axis at right angles to said first-mentioned axis and intersecting said center of gravity, means for rotating said member on its axis and means for rotating said frame on its axis.

7. An apparatus of the character described comprising a work-holding member around the exterior of which the skins, hides or the like are wrapped; means carried by said member for holding the skins, hides or the like in position thereon; a frame on which said member is mounted to rotate on one axis which intersects its center of gravity; a support for said frame on which the latter is mounted to rotate on an axis at right angles to saidfirst-mentioned axis and intersecting said center of gravity; means for rotating said frame on its axis of rotation, and independent means for rotating said member on its axis of rotation.

8. An apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 7 and wherein said last-mentioned means includes an electric motor mounted on said frame, a current supplying circuit, and a commutator in said circuit whereof a part is mounted on said frame and connected with said motor and whereof a part is mounted on said support and connected with a source of current.

9. An apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 7 and wherein said last-mentioned means includes an electric motor mounted on said frame with its center of gravity coincident with the axis of rotation of the latter, a current supplying circuit, and a commutator in said circuit whereof a part is mounted on said frame and connected with said motor and whereof a part is mounted on said support and connected with a source of current.

JOSEPH L. RUSSELL. 

